Rent & Watch Movies in Your Web Browser With Walmart's Vudu

Users can rent or buy movies and TV shows from Vudu.com, even if they don't own a Vudu-compatible TV or Blu-ray player. Vudu has more than 17,000 titles in its library with a big focus on new releases and major studio films. Users can rent titles for 24 hours for $3.99, $4.99 or $5.99, depending on quality level.

Vudu started life as a set-top box aimed at movie lovers. Since launching, the service has shifted away from its own box, instead opting to license the service to consumer electronics makers. These include devices from Sony, LG, Samsung and Panasonic. The new Boxee Box supports Vudu, and users who run Boxee on their Mac, Windows or Linux PC can also install the app.

In February, I tested and rated some of the most popular streaming media services and noted that "from a quality standpoint, Vudu is unmatched. HDX rentals really blow the boundaries of what one expects from a streaming service."

Unfortunately, users that access the service strictly from the web browser won't be able to take advantage of that fantastic picture quality. Vudu says that "due to restrictions by content providers, playback is limited to SD quality when viewed in a web browser."

Fortunately, Vudu is designed to work in such a way that a user can start a movie or TV show on one device and resume playback on another. That means that films that play back in SD in the browser will still be accessible in HD or HDX via a Blu-ray Player, PS3, Boxee Box or HDTV. It also means that purchases or rentals made from those devices will be accessible in SD in the web browser.

It's a shame that content restrictions prohibit Vudu's HD streaming. Still, allowing users to have access to additional a la carte content is a win for consumers. If you're in the U.S. and you are looking for an alternative to iTunes, Vudu just might fit the bill.

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